"The nobility's honor must not be defiled!" Archduke Louis said harshly.
Franz knew he had succeeded. To stir up conflict between the nobility and the capitalists, he had thrown caution to the wind.
After laying the groundwork for so long, he had finally awakened this conservative heavyweight to the danger. It was time to leave the stage after accomplishing his mission.
Clearly, Archduke Louis had no intention of letting Franz go. He asked directly, "Franz, what specific measures do you think we should propose to strike at the bourgeoisie?"
Franz knew he could not dodge the question now, or all his earlier efforts would be wasted.
"Uncle Louis, I only have a rough idea; I haven't worked out a detailed plan. We could draw up a Labor Protection Act.
"We could focus on wages, working hours, and labor protections. We can send people to investigate these areas, then devise a detailed plan.
"The most important thing now is to shift people's attention. We should put out a draft first, so the Reform Party won't keep their eyes fixed on us, right?"
Archduke Louis was delighted. Everyone across Austria was calling for reform, and the proposals were growing more radical by the day. Even he, the conservative leader, was nearly unable to hold out.
At a time like this, introducing a Labor Protection Act would be just the thing to divert the floodwaters eastward and drag the bourgeoisie into the fray.
From this moment on, there would be no conservatives left in the Austrian Empire. Everyone would be a reformer; the only difference would be what kind of reforms they wanted.
The bourgeoisie could win support by promising to free the serfs, establish a constitutional government and parliament, and hold universal elections. The nobility could likewise strike them a blow by offering labor protections, better wages, and shorter working hours.
The nobility still held power in Austria. The bourgeoisie's slogans were still just slogans, but the nobility's counterattack could become law at once.
The working class could hardly refuse the government's protection of their interests, shorter hours, and better wages, could they?
Once this combination of blows landed, the capitalists would likely find it much harder to incite the workers to riot.
Archduke Louis was already considering what would come next. There was no doubt that once the Labor Protection Act passed, the bourgeoisie's labor costs would soar and their profits would naturally fall.
Austria's bourgeoisie was still weak in this era. With their profits reduced, it would be difficult for them to keep expanding.
Once the bourgeoisie had been successfully curbed, the conflicts at home would ease, since the capitalists' demand for labor would fall.
As the leading figure behind the successful suppression of the bourgeoisie, Archduke Louis would become a hero among the nobility. Perhaps he could even force Metternich from office and take over as chancellor himself.
Franz had no idea what Archduke Louis was dreaming up. As long as someone else led the charge, it could be Archduke Louis or Chancellor Metternich. He just had to make sure he wasn't the one out front.
As the saying went, cutting off someone's source of income was like killing their parents.
Franz did not believe the capitalists would sit back and do nothing. When their interests were at stake, they were willing to kill. As the man at the forefront of this plan, he was sure to end up on the capitalists' blacklist.
With that in mind, Franz decided that once the Labor Protection Act was proposed, he would make himself scarce. In particular, he had to avoid being seen with Archduke Louis. If he got caught in the crossfire, there would be no one to cry to.
He did not believe that a Labor Protection Act would be enough to curb the growth of the bourgeoisie.
The higher-ups had policies, and the people below had ways around them!
The capitalists were clever, and the workers of this era were still easy to fool. Even with legal protections, the law would likely be difficult to enforce.
For one thing, if capitalists simply withheld wages, most workers would be at a loss. They could hardly afford the court fees to sue.
Of course, the law would certainly have an effect in the short term. The nobility would be looking for trouble with the capitalists, and plenty of lawyers would volunteer their services.
Government departments would also unleash their full fighting strength, using the opportunity to demand bribes and take their cut. Once they set their sights on someone, they would strip away a layer of fat. Anything less would be out of keeping with Austria's national conditions.
Having accomplished two small goals, Franz contentedly said goodbye to Archduke Louis and returned to Schönbrunn Palace.
The next day, Franz was steeping a cup of tea and savoring the latest edition of the Vienna newspaper.
In an era short on entertainment, Franz had to cultivate good habits like reading books and newspapers.
"Your Highness, Archduke Karl's butler just came by. He said Archduke Karl had an accident last night and may not survive. He wants to see you one last time," the maid Jenny said softly.
Franz's expression changed dramatically. He sprang to his feet and said, "Have the carriage prepared at once. I'm going to Archduke Charles's Mansion!"
Only then did Franz realize that Archduke Karl had died this year in history. Judging by the timing, it was about right.
There was nothing Franz could do about birth, aging, sickness, and death. Archduke Karl had been born in 1771, making him seventy-five now.
In an era when average life expectancy was under forty, that was already a remarkably long life.
If possible, Franz truly hoped Archduke Karl could live to a hundred. With this pillar of stability by his side, the pressure on him would be greatly reduced.
Whether it was military reform or the civil war that was about to break out, Franz needed this ally to be there and share the burden.
Franz reached Archduke Charles's Mansion as quickly as he could. On the way, he had already learned what happened. Archduke Karl had had a drink the previous night, then accidentally took a fall.
He had fractured a vertebra. In this era, with medicine still underdeveloped, there was no way to fit him with a steel plate and help him recover.
The doctors judged that he had little time left. As a political figure, he still had to give his final instructions at the end of his life, and Archduke Karl was no exception.
Franz was his most favored pupil—at least in Franz's own estimation—so of course he had to be there. Unless he personally gave him a few words, Archduke Karl probably would not rest easy even in death.
By then, many senior military officers had already arrived at Archduke Charles's Mansion, but Franz had no time for pleasantries. He headed straight for the inner room.
"Grandpa Karl, Franz is here to see you," Franz said sorrowfully.
"Mm, Franz..."
"Remember, a soldier may only bleed, never shed tears!"
"Albrecht, give Franz the military reform plan I never managed to complete."
"Remember, Franz, if you want Austria to grow truly strong, you must see the reforms through!"
Archduke Karl spoke haltingly. Franz could only guess at some of what he said, but the gist was that Franz should carry on his work and push military reform through.
"Don't worry, Grandpa Karl. I, Franz Joseph, swear by God that I will carry military reform through to the end!"
Hearing Franz's promise, Archduke Karl smiled with relief and closed his eyes.
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